Akinori Iwamura hit a go-ahead, two-run homer as Tampa Bay beat the Chicago White Sox 6-2 today for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five American League division playoff series, the AP reports. The young, resilient Rays are one win from breezing into the American League championship series. "This is just awesome," said Rocco Baldelli, who singled in a run.
The Rays go for a sweep when the series resumes Sunday in Chicago. Tampa Bay's Matt Garza (11-9) faces John Danks (12-9), trying to seal a matchup against World Series champion Boston or the Los Angeles Angels in the next round. "We're a relaxed bunch," Baldelli said. "We chill out in the clubhouse. We have fun. That's what got us here." (More baseball playoffs stories.)